Man left ‘like a jigsaw’ after post-pub lift home in tractor

A PUBGOER who took a ride home in a tractor bucket had to be put back together “like a jigsaw” after he was crushed by the vehicle, a court has heard.

Liam Earle, 27, was run over by the 10-ton tractor and remarkably survived, but he remains in hospital 10 months later.

He was struck as Clive Pearce, 50, drove the Caterpillar vehicle on to the road with Mr Earle and a friend, who had been drinking at a pub, inside the vehicle’s bucket.

Mr Earle was airlifted to Southmead Hospital in Bristol after the accident, where he remains with catastrophic neck, back and pelvic injuries.

His consultant said he had never seen injuries “so serious or complex” in his 20 years of experience, while his

‘Liam has suffered unbelievable injuries and the last 10 months have been the hardest of our lives’

mother Nicki Schantz said in a victim impact statement: “Liam has suffered unbelievable injuries and the last 10 months have been the hardest 10 months of our lives. Something I wish no family to go through.

“Liam was left with an incomplete spinal injury, a broken neck, nine broken ribs, fractures of vertebrae, exploded lower spine and fractured vertebrae. His pelvis was shattered, part of which was put back together like a jigsaw puzzle.

“Not to mention the several large wounds where skin, fat and muscle were lost.”

Pearce accepted that he allowed Mr Earle and a 24-year-old woman to sit in the bucket despite being against the vehicle manufacturer’s guidelines and legislation.

Taunton Crown Court also heard how Pearce used the Caterpillar inappropriately to take signage down from a height and driving the vehicle in such circumstances was dangerous.

Pearce, of Martock, Somerset, also admitted dangerous driving causing serious injury and driving without insurance at the first opportunity.

He was sentenced to 10 months in prison and was banned from driving for two years and five months and ordered to pay a £170 victim surcharge.